Blowgun fuse adapter



Aug. 26, 1969 G. G. STILES BLOWGUN FUSE ADAPTER Filed Oct. 16, 1967 INVENTOR.

GRAYSON 6. 57/455 United States Patent US. Cl. 337-242 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adapter for an electric fuse, the adapter being receivable within a conventional fuse socket and the adapter carrying a neon lamp and a replacable fuse, the neon lamp producing a glow when the fuse is defective.

This invention relates generally to electric fuses.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter having self contained means for visually indicating by means of a glowing lamp when the fuse is defective.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter which is readily securable within a conventional socket of a fuse panel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter which carries its own self-contained lamp.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter having a self-contained socket for receiving replaceable fuses.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a blow-glow fuse adapter which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation. I

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a replaceable fuse that is receivable within the fuse adapter,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the fuse adapter shown partly in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the fuse adapter showing a replaceable fuse secured therewithin; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof. Referring'now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a blow-glow fuse adapter according to the present invention wherein there is an outer cylindrical shell 11 made of electrically conductive metal and which is screw threaded as shown at 12 so as to be threadingly engageable within a socket of a fuse panel (not shown.) The fuse adapter includes a body 13 made from plastic or other non-conductive material and which electrically separates the shell 11 from a circular base contact 14.

- At its opposite end, the fuse adapter is provided with a fiat wall 15 of .electrically non-conductive material such as plastic, the wall 15 thus forming an enclosure 16 within the fuse adapter within which a neon lamp 17 is carried.

An opening 18 is formed in the wall 15 so to provide access for a fuse 19 to be entered therethrough and be threadingly engaged within a fuse socket 20 comprised of a metal shell 21 of cylindrical configuration and having screw thread 22 for threadingly engaging a screw thread 23 upon the fuse 19. The socket 20 furtherv in- 3,464,048 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 cludes a base contact 24 for engaging a base contact 25 of the fuse 19.

The neon lamp 17 is connected by a conductor 26 to the shell 11, and by means of a conductor 27 through a resistor 28 to the base contact 14 of the fuse adapter. The fuse socket 20 of the fuse adapter is electrically connected by a conductor 29 from the base contact 24 to the base contact 14. Additionally the socket 20 is electrically connected by means of shell 21 engaging the shell 11.

A window 30 made of transparent material is fitted into the wall 15 so as to provide visual access to the neon lamp contained within the enclosure 16 of the fuse adapter.

In operative use, when the fuse adapter is placed into a socket of a fuse panel, and the fuse is placed into the socket of the fuse adapter, the current will flow from the base of the fuse adapter through the fuse socket base conductor through the fusible metal to the shell of the adapter completing the electric circuit. When the fusible metal becomes inoperative due to trouble in the electric circuit, the current will flow through the neon lamp conductors, the neon lamp will glow showing the fuse is inoperative. No current can fiow through the neon lamp conductors as long as the fusible metal is in an operative condition. As is shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the fuse 19 is not provided with a window such as is present in conventional fuses as this is not necessary.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fuse adapter, the combination of an externally threaded cylindrical shell receivable within a conventional socket of a fuse panel, said shell including a cylindrical side wall of electrically conductive metal and which is screw-thread configurated, a base contact of electricity conducting metal at one end of said shell, a non-conductive plastic body between an edge of said contact and around an edge of said cylindrical wall for securing said contact in an insulated manner to said side Wall, said shell further including a top wall to form an enclosure within said fuse adapter, a lamp comprising a neon lamp contained within said enclosure, an electric conductor between one terminal of said lamp and said cylindrical side wall, another conductor between another terminal of said lamp and a resistor, said resistor being connected by a connector to said base contact, said neon 'lamp and Said resistor thus being in series circuit, said top wall and said fuse adapter being provided with a window to provide visual access of said neon lamp within said enclosure, said top wall being provided with an opening for admitting a removable fuse therethrough, a fuse socket within said fuse adapter, said fuse socket comprising an inner shell of electrically conductive metal, said inner shell being threaded for threadingly engaging an external thread of said fuse, said fuse socket having a base contact connected by a conductor to said base contact of said fuse adapter and being in contact with a base contact of said fuse, said inner shell being electrically engaged with said outer shell, and said plug being in a side by side relationship with said lamp.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuse comprises a fuse plug, said fuse plug being of substantially less diameter than the diameter of said fuse adapter.

3,464,048 4 A 3 v v. 4 t

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said I 2,652,466 9/ 1953 Mohring 337 268 X fuse plug when assembled in said fuse socket has its 2,852,641 9/1958 Valentine 337-270 t 12 th f th 1 1t periphery substantially tangen ml 0 at 0 e a er BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Us. Cl X.R.

2,244,044 6/1941 Bishop 337266 337 266 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,464,048

August 26 196 Grayson G Stiles It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, title of invention, "BLOWGUN FUSE ADAPTER" should read BLOW-GLOW FUSE ADAPTER Signed and sealed this 2nd day of June 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

